So I figured I would do a FMIC while redoing the clutch job, so I got a CXRacing FMIC on ebay for $400 shipped. I could have spent more for a "nice" one, but since nobody has chronicled fitting one on a B6 here I would go ahead and try it. I am still running the k03, so no real loss there.
Packaging and shipping:
The intercooler setup came well packaged and in a timely manner, I believe 4 business days. The core was in its own separate box with an inch and a half of foam on each side. All the piping was relatively polished, and each pipe was actually tagged with its correct location, which couplers were to be fit on each side and numbered in correct order of install. The couplers and t-bolt clamps were all packaged individually and insulated with plastic and foam. It also included an aluminum pre-fabbed upper mount and various mounts and pipe brackets.
Modifications to install:
Disclaimer: I knew going into this I was going to do a USP front bumper and any cutting or maiming of the stock bumper was really moot because it was damaged anyway prior to my ownership.
There was cutting aplenty required to make it fit. I had to cut most of the rebar away on the lower half in the center (see pic) and a decent amount of the bumper immediately adjacent to the center grille on both sides and part of the fog buckets on both sides. I originally had it fit where the foglights needed to be removed, but with some careful massaging I retained both stock fogs. It fits a bit tight on the drivers side, but it was always that way since I have owned it, I will utilize a new USP upper/lower soon and have it fitted professionally before paint.
Driving Impressions:
The car now has a BIG FAT increase in power and torque in the midrange, from when it spools until around 5k rpm. It still chokes off past 5k, but it is much less pronounced. The power and boost are much more linear as well, plus the boost holds 18-19 psi mush longer than before. I now have a solid 18-20 lbs of boost for at least 1500 rpm. I feel much safer running the 93 octane tune now, and can feel where there previously was a bit of timing retard from heat soak. Unfortunately now I have run out of mods I can do with the stock turbo, so now I need to justify the expense of that upgrade. There is really no performance downside to this, it actually feels like it spools at the same rpm as with the stock IC and is just generally much less peaky and meatier throughout the powerband. It is a similar feel to when I went to the TT225 injector file from stage 1.
Installation Difficulty:
I would rate this as a 6 out of 10, it requires a decent amount of modification, and if you are unfamiliar with modding your car, you should probably have a shop install or buy a FMIC kit from one of the big companies which is guaranteed to fit well. I did not mind, but I used to build engines in my parents garage in high school, so YMMV.
It probably is not, the core is actually a really high quality unit. It is bar and plate, and has alternating rows of fins in each row from front to back just like the big boys.
The core is larger then even the USP inlet. There wouldn't be much to gain from a bigger core, plus it is 2.5" in/out. The hot charge pipe is 2" transitioning to 2.5 and the cold pipe is 2.5" to the tb.
Thanks for taking the time to do a write up on this, I was just looking at these on ebay this morning.
Did most of the difficulty come from having to trim the bumper? Did the kit come with everything you needed to complete the install? No missing hoses or clamps, etc? Fog grills will fit with some trimming?
04 DG USP 6MT l BB FMIC l 710n l 2.0 CPs l AudiUp snub
I'm really glad you made this thread...I was thinking I would get severely flamed if I asked about it considering how many times its been asked, but this is exactly what I was looking for haha. I wish I could buy just the piping, I have shit tons of intercoolers layin around.
Care to be more specific about the modification that was required? Was it modification of the parts you received? Pipes too long? not the right angle?
I'm going to assume most was from the body modification?
I remember doing the APS FMIC on my 06 STi, 2 hours mounting all the parts and to get it running....6 hours of bumper trimming to make it fit right haha
Any pictures of no bumper with the rebar mounted? I'd love to see how much of the rebar was removed with the IC as reference for how much is being blocked.
'03 Crystal Blue A4 1.8T - ECS Tuning Snub Nose - AFE Filter - Joey Modded headlights (HID) - Stained Yellow Fogs - Smoked Tails & Side Markers - 20% Tint - Modded Airbox - Test Pipe - Prior owner D-bag cut off mufflers - N249 Reroute - Reversed DV -
Thanks for taking the time to do a write up on this, I was just looking at these on ebay this morning.
Did most of the difficulty come from heaving to trim the bumper? Did the kit come with everything you needed to complete the install? No missing hoses or clamps, etc? Fog grills will fit with some trimming?
Yes, in fact, it went on like a charm and everything fit extremely well in respect to all parts not including the bumper cover. If I had a USP/Caricature/pretty much any bumper cover except the base model one, it would have been monumentally easier. There were no missing parts, exactly the right amount of clamps and hose couplers were included and there were even a few extra misc. brackets I didn't use because I fabbed my own lower core supports.
I'm really glad you made this thread...I was thinking I would get severely flamed if I asked about it considering how many times its been asked, but this is exactly what I was looking for haha. I wish I could buy just the piping, I have shit tons of intercoolers layin around.
Care to be more specific about the modification that was required? Was it modification of the parts you received? Pipes too long? not the right angle?
I'm going to assume most was from the body modification?
I remember doing the APS FMIC on my 06 STi, 2 hours mounting all the parts and to get it running....6 hours of bumper trimming to make it fit right haha
Any pictures of no bumper with the rebar mounted? I'd love to see how much of the rebar was removed with the IC as reference for how much is being blocked.
The pic of the cut rebar is above, It is mounted to the bumper cover so I did not have them apart, I just cut the bar with the bumper attached. The actual mounting of the intercooler took about 30 mins and the modding of bumper cover and support took about 2 hrs. Almost all the offending material was the rear part of the bumper cover. I will go take a couple of better pics of the cuts. Bear in mind I am replacing the whole front upper/lower bumper with USP soon and did not take a lot of care in my cutting. The core only protrudes into the support beam about an inch, so you aren't losing any appreciable amount of airflow.
Thanks so much! I also plan to go USP, but only USP Lower. Im not sure if you're planning an entire USP or just the lower or not.
But it looks great man! I see you mentioned 16-18psi, what other modifications do you have?
I am doing the complete USP, I got some insurance money for a replacement from a neighbor who backed into my car. I am Stage 2+ APR tuned with every supporting mod. My full mod list is in my profile.
I have that exact same core and didn't have to trim anything. All I did was mount it lower
Are you using a USP bumper? My core rests on the lower section of the bumper as is, I have it mounted as low as I can with the standard base model bumper cover.
Yes sir, that's what it is. Wow I didn't realize usp was that much lower
It is a little lower, but the big difference is that the base model lower curves back so much and the USP goes almost straight down. The lower is where all the interference happens.
Get some logs! Lets see how this FMIC really preforms.
DD - 2012 MazdaSpeed3
2003 A4 1.8TQ
APR stg2+, MTM injectors, Ecode FMIC, PSi testpipe, OC.T TIP, Hyperboost DV, B5S4 calipers, Goodridge SS lines, Stern firm snub, motor and transmission mounts, Podi, Vogtland Jr. Cup Kit, RS4 Rear Sway Bar, USP front and spacers front and rear
ebay IC is an ebay IC, they all seem to need to be huge to do what a smaller and better core will do. IATs always seem to skyrocket on these things too though. Buschars test here: http://forums.evolutionm.net/evo-eng...cts-truth.html which are largely mirrored on back to back tests elsewhere on the net.
B6 A4 1.8t & Mk4 GTI 1.8t - PAG Parts 50 trim - AEB - RMR/70mm
Thats not quite an apples to apples to apples comparison. The consern for me isn't weather or not this fmic can effectively support big hp applications, but is it a legitamate upgrade over stock at a reasonable cost. I'm willing to bet that logs will verify just that.
04 DG USP 6MT l BB FMIC l 710n l 2.0 CPs l AudiUp snub
If you guys are going to trim the plastic atleast finish the plastic edges so it looks smoother.
Define low-density. Meaning the fins between the plates? Does anyone read anymore? I don't care what it looks like because I am swapping it out for a USP!
Thats not quite an apples to apples to apples comparison. The consern for me isn't weather or not this fmic can effectively support big hp applications, but is it a legitamate upgrade over stock at a reasonable cost. I'm willing to bet that logs will verify just that.
YES! It pulls MUCH harder now. I should have used the shop owner's VAG to log IAT...
Only good for a k04. You're IAT's will sky rocket after a handful of pulls and forget about the summer drive.
It is better than the stock side mount based on surface area and composition alone. I would love to log IAT, I just need to find someone with Vag-com. I just checked and I cannot log iat with VCDS-lite.
I understand this. You might want to recalibrate your butt dyno.
I have a 500 hp Mustang I was just driving for a few days before installing this. If anything my butt dyno would "read low" after that... Don't be a dick.
Nah, my car is slow. I've only driven a new GT and a slightly older 427. It just felt like a slush bucket. I have the same core in black that I could have sold you for $50 brand new.
ATW 1.8TQM | SCAT | FX400 | GTcougaR | AEM Standalone | Meth
PM ME: Parting out all Stage I parts
Nah, my car is slow. I've only driven a new GT and a slightly older 427. It just felt like a slush bucket. I have the same core in black that I could have sold you for $50 brand new.
I don't mind if it sucks, I'll just buy a better one. Point of this thread is to show people it does function and is an upgrade worth doing if you are willing to put in the work. I will log asap.
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Originally Posted by kneel
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